BEYONCE JOINS GLOBAL AID ORGANIZATIONS TO HIGHLIGHT WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ An international star Beyonce, the United Nations and humanitarian aid organizations are launching a global campaign today to shine a spotlight on humanitarian work and encourage people around the world to get involved by doing something good for others. It was reported on August 2. World Humanitarian Day is a global day to celebrate humanity and the spirit of people helping people. The World Humanitarian Day music video for Beyonce's song “I Was Here” will be filmed in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York in front of a live audience. It will be released globally on 19 August. Beyonce and songwriter Diane Warren are donating the video to the campaign. “World Humanitarian Day celebrates humanitarian work,” said Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. “I hope everyone will pledge to complete at least one humanitarian action - however great or small - through www.whd-iwashere.org. Together we can create an unprecedented awareness of the plight of people affected by crises around the world.” It is hoped that there will be a strong level of support from countries across Asia which each year suffer record numbers of disasters affecting millions of people. "Natural disasters such as floods and tropical storms that we are experiencing across the region right now occur each year in Asia. Every one is affected in some way but its the community support and the acts of heroism and generosity that help us overcome these terrible events. That is what World Humanitarian Day celebrates," said Oliver Lacey-Hall the Head of the Regional Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Asia and the Pacific. The campaign website, which is launched today, provides everyone with an opportunity to unite and share his or her individual acts of good. On 19 August, the campaign aims to reach one billion people in a day with a single message. “We all see the headlines and we think what can I really do to help?”, said Beyonce. “World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for all of us to work together to make a difference. This is our time to leave our mark on the world and show that we were here and we care.” The campaign is launched in collaboration with award-winning advertising agency Droga5, the UN humanitarian arm's lead agency for special projects. Production company Ridley Scott & Associates and directors Kenzo Digital and Sophie Muller will help bring the initiative to life. “There are few forces for good as extensive and important as the United Nations,” said David Droga, Founder and Creative Chairman, Droga5. “Being able to work with them and other global aid organizations for World Humanitarian Day is a humbling and extraordinary opportunity.” Communities and organizations across the globe will celebrate World Humanitarian Day through commemorations and public events, from Dubai to Geneva, Bangkok to Panama City and Addis Ababa to New York. In 2008, the UN General Assembly designated 19 August World Humanitarian Day to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide, recognize people who risk their lives to help people in need, wherever they are, and to mark the day in 2003 when 22 people lost their lives in an attack on the UN offices in Baghdad.